In Hudson County’s retail world, “the more the merrier” rings true once again with a new consignment shop coming to 197 Newark Avenue in Jersey City. Consigned Designs, led by husband and wife team Amanda and Tommy Atkinson, is set to transform the former gallery space into a consignment shop. The store plans to open December 16th and will feature a blend of contemporary fashion pieces alongside a selection of vintage luxury items. Read on for details about the owners and the new consignment shop opening soon in Jersey City.
Photo Credit: Amanda + Tommy Atkinson
Journey to Jersey City
Amanda’s fashion journey is deeply rooted in her upbringing by parents who advised her to “Always dress to impress because you never know who you will run into.” This advice shaped her perspective and career in fashion, which began after two years of studies in fashion merchandising at Berkeley. Her career spanned over six years as a brand manager for a handbag company known as Affordable Luxury Group where she learned about the industry. Over time, the demanding nature of the fashion world took its toll, prompting her to seek a healthier work-life balance. “Realizing my time in fashion was draining and not healthy, I knew I’d return on my own terms. That’s where consignment comes in,” Amanda said.
Read More: An A-Z List of Local Brick-and-Mortar Hoboken Businesses to Support Every Day
Amanda learned about the consignment model through Tommy since his mother has owned a consignment shop in Greenwich, Connecticut for over 20 years. Amanda spent weekends there learning, immersed in the consignment world, fostering a deep connection with the business. Driven by Amanda and Tommy’s shared passion for fashion and Tommy’s financial expertise, they noticed an influx of Hudson County and New York shoppers flooding his mother’s store and thought it would be great to expand the business to Jersey City.
“Jersey City is our home, we love supporting the local businesses in our area and felt it was only right to join the community,” Amanda said. “Tommy and I always spoke about going into business together, especially in the town that we love and call home. We look at some of our favorite business owners, like Tony and Geo at Scale, Kerry and Michael at LoveLocked, Erica and Will at Dark Pines to name a few, and we’d come home and say, “One day that will be us; it has to be.”
About Consigned Designs
Consigned Designs is a consignment shop coming to the Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza located at 197 Newark Avenue in Jersey City. The original location is in Greenwich, Connecticut and the Jersey City location is opening December 16th, with appointment-only collections starting next week. The store will feature a fusion of contemporary pieces intertwined with vintage luxury, catering initially to womenswear but with future aspirations to expand its range to men’s, children’s apparel, and home goods. Amanda is ready to go with a collection of clothing and accessories for the winter season which includes cashmere sweaters, cable knit sweaters, coats, shoes, jeans, and accessories.
^ The Jersey City Consigned Designs space. Photo Credit: Amanda + Tommy Atkinson
As for ambiance, Amanda is on a mission to redefine the shopping experience, envisioning a space where customers effortlessly discover an affordable luxury item without the hassle of rummaging through racks. The merchandise will be sourced from estate sales, closet clean-outs, and customers who hand in items they wish to consign.
Reflecting on the differences between Consigned Designs’ Connecticut and Jersey City locations, Amanda said the diversity in Hudson County would set them apart. “The Connecticut location has a certain customer base that comes in and looks for particular brands, whereas I feel like the diversity of Hudson County will bring in a lot more funky pieces,” Amanda said.
See More: A List of Must-Shop Boutiques in Montclair
Amanda shared her hopes for the customer experience in her shop. “The store in Connecticut has such a loyal customer base that consigns seasonally. It’s great because you’re cleaning out your closet, making money, and can refresh your wardrobe! I am hoping to get the same type of relationship with our customers in Jersey City. I want our customers to trust that we will do right by their items and get them the right amount for the pieces they decide to part with,” Amanda said.
For more news and lifestyle content, follow @thehobokengirl on TikTok and Instagram.
